10.1. Introduction

An important principle behind ArgoUML is that actions
should be able to be invoked in whatever way the user finds
convenient. As a result many (but not all) actions that can be
carried out on the menu can be carried out in other ways as
well under ArgoUML.

A number of the common menu entries are also available
through keyboard shortcuts.

It is also be possible to navigate the menu from the
keyboard. Each level of each menu is identified by a letter
(shown underlined in the menu or entry name from the moment the
ALT key is pressed). This sequence of letters while holding
down the ALT key selects the entry.

The following is an explanation of why the menuitems are
grouped as they are.

The File menu contains
operations that affect on the whole project/file. All the
items in this menu can be explained as such.

The Edit menu is generally
intended for editing the model or changing the content of
a diagram. It also contains functions to enable editing,
like e.g. selecting. This menu is not intended for
diagram layout functions. Most functions here do
something with the selected modelelement and diagram. The
items "Configure Perspectives..."
and "Settings..." are a bit different,
since they adjust the way ArgoUML works - but they do not
belong in the File menu, since their settings are not
stored in the project.

The View menu is for functions
that do never alter the model, nor the diagram layout,
only the way you view the diagram. A good example is
"zoom".
Also navigational functions belong here, e.g. "Find"
and "Goto Diagram...". All changes of settings
in this menu apply to all diagrams (e.g. zoom).

The Create menu contains all
possible diagrams that can be created.
These functions are
context dependend, since they work on the
selected modelelement.

The Arrange menu allows layout
changes in the current diagram, which is not the same as
the items in the View menu. Functions here can not alter
the UML model.

The Generation menu is for
Code Generation. The functions here work either on the
selected modelelements, or on the whole project.

The Critique menu is specific
for settings related to critics,
which apply for all projects.

The Tools menu is currently
empty. If
plugins are installed, then their functions appear
here.